《论语》“直”义再探

A Re-examination of"Zhi"in The Analects

《论语》对“直”的阐发可大致分疏为四种含义,即物理性质之直观义、不曲之直率、德性之正直以及作为人性底色之始质。四义之间呈现为彼此相联的推扩关系,其中最为关键的是作为人性之始质的“直”。孔子对“直”的理解与使用是辩证的,这在《论语》对“父子相隐”与“以直报怨”等问题的论述中有明确体现。真正意义上的“直”既非形式化的固执己意,亦非为追逐外在之名而造作伪饰,而是基于对伦理共同体生活经验的深刻体认与对礼乐文化的修习不断培育而成的道德直觉。这种道德直觉在具体的道德情境中发用为不待勉强、真实无妄的行为。“直”所体现的真实无妄的品质及行事风格与《中庸》对“诚”的论述具有义理上的内在相关性。相较而言,《论语》对“直”的阐发较《中庸》“诚”论更为质朴。从工夫论的层面上看,“直”潜在地伴随“自明诚”的修习并体现在“自诚明”的状态中。孔子将对“直”的理解与把握表达为一种真切的实践智慧,其内涵不仅限于德性伦理学与角色伦理学,而指向“时中”的境界。

Through the interpretation of the four different meanings of"zhi"in The Analects,it can be understood that"zhi"primarily embodies a fundamental aspect of human nature.Confucius'understanding of"zhi"is dialectical,as clearly demonstrated in his discussions on"father-son concealment"and"repaying resentment with upright dealing"."Zhi"does not consist of stubbornly clinging to one's own opinions or putting on a false facade for external recognition;rather,it is a moral intuition that arises from deep recognition of ethical communal living experiences and continuous cultivation.The moral intuition represented by"zhi,"when applied in different moral contexts,manifests as spontaneous,genuine behavior without any pretense.This quality of genuineness aligns with the discussion on"cheng"in The Doctrine of the Mean.On the level of personal cultivation,"zhi"is not only an objective to strive for through prudence-sincerity cultivation but also an inevitable state resulting from sincerity to prudence.Confucius'demonstration of"zhi"shows the practical wisdom that points towards the realm of being attuned to timely appropriateness.